The 2025 Calabar Marathon, a 24km race held on Saturday, April 19, in Calabar, saw visiting athletes sweep all top prizes, sparking disappointment among Cross River State’s local runners. The event, organized by the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, offered a platform for competition but left local participants without major rewards, including the ₦2 million first-place prize.
In the men’s category, 17-year-old Gang James Boyi from Plateau State claimed the gold medal with an impressive time of 1:04:24, while Francis Musa, also from Plateau, took second place at 1:04:51. The women’s race was won by 28-year-old Agofure Charity from Delta State, who defended her title with a time of 1:19:78, earning ₦1 million. Elizabeth Nuhu secured second place in the female category with a time of 1:22:47. Second-place finishers received ₦500,000 each, and third-place athletes were awarded ₦300,000.
The champions attributed their success to intense training and dedication, expressing gratitude to the Cross River State Government for hosting the marathon. However, local runners voiced their frustration. Eteng Onu, a Cross River participant, said, “It’s painful that after all the effort, I couldn’t win anything.” Another local, Philip Ekpenyong, simply stated, “I am not happy.” Sports analyst Clinton Akpan urged local athletes to adopt the training methods of consistent winners to improve future outcomes.
Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, representing Governor Bassey Otu, highlighted the marathon’s role in youth empowerment, stating, “The Calabar Marathon aligns with our policy of putting the people first, showing young people alternatives to social vices.” Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, pledged to enhance future editions of the event.
Social media reactions echoed local sentiments, with some users praising the winners’ performances while others sympathized with Cross River runners.
